Happy birthday, New Life Church
In just the past few years, God has empowered the church to pack thousands of sponsor child boxes, thousands more Christmas gifts were given to the neediest in the community
New Life Church celebrated its 40th birthday this past weekend.
The inspiring story of how God used a young couple to start one of the biggest churches in eMalahleni goes way back to 1980.
Pastor Cedric and Loraine Baillie were instrumental in this perfect Godly plan.
They met with a small group of people in the home of Bev and Shirley Lawrence.
During those meetings, New Life Church was born.
“As they put their faith in Jesus something incredible started to happen. More and more people wanted to be part of what God was creating,” was the message delivered on Sunday, October 25.
Soon the home could no longer contain the work that God was doing.
New Life had to move to somewhere bigger.
In 1981, they started to meet at Spring Valley Chapel.
More and more people streamed into the services and soon the chapel was too small.
In 1982 the church moved to a school hall at Robert Carruthers.
Still, people hungry for the Word of God poured into the church.
So many people needed what God, through New Life, was providing that very soon the school hall was too small.
God spoke to the leadership and told them to find a place that could be their permanent home.
In 1983 a plot of land found on the outskirts of the then Witbank and miraculously the finances was raised to purchase this property cash.
Still, God’s plan was bigger and in 1986 a Christian School was the church’s next mission.
Liberty Christian College laid the foundation for doctors, lawyers, teachers, missionaries, pastors and so much more.
Life was changed for the students at grass root level.
God was doing a mighty work, and He was just getting started.
In the early 2000s, Desray Skinner and Pete and Kiki van der Spuy feel called to plant satellite churches in Kriel and Middelburg.
“And in 2006 a new season of leadership begins as Andrew and Debbie Baillie step into their new roles. New life was breathed into New Life as the music, the arts, the teaching and the people changed the way church was done. Again God was adding.”
Then in 2014, it was time to enlarge the Worship Home to accommodate the growing number of people at New Life Church.
A year later and God placed Ryan and Jacqueline Langkilde at the helm of this now 35-year-old home.
Feeding schemes were started, after-care centres for children, a Dignity store for those who were in need.
But still, God pushed on with even greater plans.
In 2018 a Children’s Home was built to give children who had been hurt and abandoned a place to call home where they could grow up in a happy home with the love of God surrounding them.
In just the past few years, God has empowered the church to pack thousands of sponsor child boxes, thousands more Christmas gifts were given to the neediest in the community.
“We’ve inspired local leaders with a new vision of how to lead our community. We’ve seen hundreds in our city come to find Jesus and be baptised and discipled,” said Pastor Ryan.
When the world went into lockdown darkness in 2020, New Life Church stood as a beacon of hope as they went online and broadcast to the town, the country and the world the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
They were there to help those in need.
As this incredible story that started as a small meeting in a home unfolds, God reminds everyone that His plans are greater than anything you can imagine.
